(Semi) Quick Reads

The moment my first class started last Tuesday, I knew that my seminary education would be completely different than my education at UCLA. Every class begins with a word of prayer. (How refreshingly cool is that!?) Three of my four History of the Baptists lectures have begun with a challenging devotional from the word of God. And each of my classes share this goal: the equipping of men and women for Kingdom service, to the glory of God.

On top of that, there is the reading. Now, it's not like we're reading Piper and MacArthur in every single class. In fact, none of my classes this semester are requiring me to read any of the authors I normally read. But that doesn't mean that my heart hasn't been tremendously challenged and encouraged by some of the texts that I have been able to read. Below are some favorites from the past week and a half of class.

This is Adoniram Judson's letter to the father of Nancy asking for permission to marry his daughter (emphasis added). (Imagine if young men started following this as a model for courtship? I wonder...who would leave CYF first? All the girls. . . or all the fathers of those girls?)
"I have now to ask, whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life; whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death. Can you consent to all this, for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home, and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion, and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with the crown of righteousness, brightened with the acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Savior from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?"

This is from Mark Noll's book on The Search for Christian America which we read part of for my Church History 1 class (emphasis added).
"Amidst the complexity of the historical record, a "labryinthine network" in Butterfield's words, we are left with nothing historical in which to trust -- nothing save the mighty arm of God, which, by breaking into history, closed the yawning gates of hell and turns even the clenched first of man's wrath to his praise."

Lastly, this is taken from Augustine's Confessions which we read in my first shepherding group with Dr. Eric Johnson. (I know, I know. . . the translator made up a word, but it's still good stuff!)
"What other Lord is Lord, what other God but God? -- highest, best, most powerful, all-powerfulest, most merciful yet most just, hidden far away yet very near, most beautiful yet most strong, most fixed yet most elusive, changeless in changing all things; neither young nor old, you give youth back to all things yet 'age the proud away insensibly'; active always, always at rest, you acquire without lacking, you support, fill, and protect; create, raise, and complete; seeking, though you have all; loving, yet not inflamed; jealous, yet not disturbed; regretful, without remorse; angry, without intemperance, you change even without a change of plan; acquiring what is at hand without having loss; never in need, yet happy at gain..."

Inspiring, challenging, humbling, thought-provoking and worship-causing. Good stuff.